7“Can’t Go Back, So Might As Well Live Life To The Fullest.”

"Cattle's" physique was truly intimidating. The younger gang members in the manager's office looked a bit frightened, except for Zhang Qian, who remained as nonchalant as ever. Lee Tae sized up "Cattle". No wonder his nickname was "Cattle" (Yellow Ox)—he certainly had the build of an ox.

"You'll stay here tonight," Lee Tae instructed. He had no interest in sharing his single apartment with another man. Besides, with the beautiful doctor Han A-rin finishing her shift soon, she might come over to check on his wounds.

"That's settled for now." With plenty of subordinates at his disposal, Lee Tae felt quite satisfied. The group of men bowed, "Take care, boss."

At the emergency hospital, the lights were dim and cold. The lovely doctor, Han A-rin, rested her chin on her hand as she sat at the inquiry desk, her eyes wandering aimlessly.

"Beautiful doctor, I'd like you to check my body," a voice interrupted her thoughts. Her anger flared up, and she turned, ready to give this person a piece of her mind. "Huh? Oppa?" she exclaimed, her voice as clear as a nightingale, echoing down the corridor.

Covering her mouth in shock, she saw Lee Tae standing there, holding a bouquet of roses. "Oppa, what are you doing here?" she asked in a soft, excited voice.

"I came to pick you up after your shift," he said, handing her the roses. "Why are you alone?"

Overjoyed, Han A-rin took the roses, sneaking a glance around as she replied, "I still have half an hour left."

"Perfect timing. I'm just in time," he said with a smile.

The doctor's heart was filled with sweetness as the two talked softly across the inquiry desk. Time flew by.

"Oppa, let's go!" After clocking out, Han A-rin grabbed the roses again and eagerly pulled Lee Tae by the hand, running outside.

In the parking lot, a pink scooter stood out. "Oppa, how about I give you a ride?" Han A-rin asked, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled.

"Sure."

As the scooter sped off, Lee Tae held onto Han A-rin's slim waist from behind. The night breeze was cool, but it couldn't dampen the warmth in their hearts. At this hour, there weren't many cars on the road, and even fewer pedestrians. Aside from the occasional light spilling out of a 24-hour convenience store, there were barely any shops still open.

"Oppa, how about some fried chicken?" A brightly lit fried chicken shop stood out in the darkness.

"Sounds good."

The scooter made a quick turn and stopped in front of the fried chicken shop.

"Two orders of fried chicken and beer, please!" Han A-rin called out.

"Oh, the doctor's off work?" the shop owner laughed. "Coming right up."

Compared to beef and pork, chicken was much cheaper, and after being fried, it was crispy and delicious. In South Korea, fried chicken was basically considered a snack. Paired with beer, it was a favorite for people of all ages.

Soon, two plates of crispy, fragrant fried chicken and two bottles of beer were placed in front of them. The meal was simple but enjoyable.

Since arriving in this new world, this was the first time Lee Tae had gone on a proper date with a doctor. Good food, good company—it all felt just right. Across from him, Han A-rin chattered on about funny incidents from the emergency room, giggling and covering her mouth at the highlights.

A warmth flickered in Lee Tae's eyes. In this unfamiliar world, with no one to rely on, he often felt lost and frustrated. But having the doctor by his side gave him comfort and reassurance.

For a brief moment, clarity struck him. That's right—he couldn't go back, so he might as well make the most of the present. In his previous life, he had become a champion of Sanda through grit and determination. Here in South Korea, he would live life to the fullest, enjoying every moment. What were undercover work, Chief Kang, or the Geumgang Group to him? They could all be swept into the trash heap.

With his burdens lifted, Lee Tae felt more at ease than ever. He gently took Han A-rin's hands in his and whispered, "A-rin, thank you."

"Oppa," Han A-rin, both happy and surprised, couldn't help but notice the change in him. The man before her seemed brighter, no longer brooding as he had been before. His eyes, now shining like stars, made her heart flutter.

They entered the house hand in hand. "From now on, let's live here," he said.

"Okay," she replied obediently. "I'll do whatever you say, Oppa."

Lee Tae's change was obvious. Ding Qing circled around him several times before waving his hands in front of his face. "Where's my gloomy little bro? You're not possessed, are you?"

"Cut it out, will you?" Lee Tae swatted Ding Qing's hand away. "Weren't we going to buy a car?"

Last night, after securing the three arcades, they kept the cash from the safes for themselves. It wasn't enough to buy a legitimate car, but it was more than enough to get a cut-up smuggled one. In this line of work, appearances were everything. It didn't matter how broke you were; you had to look like you were rolling in cash.

"Oh, right." Ding Qing's excitement returned. In the underworld, not having a car was unacceptable. Up until now, they'd had to rely on taxis or walk everywhere, which just didn't fit their status. Now that they had the money, it was time to fix that.

"I'm going to see Li from the smuggling shop. You coming?"

"Yeah, let's go." With Zhang Qian holding down the fort, there was nothing urgent keeping him at the arcade. Besides, Lee Tae was curious about the local smuggling scene. Yeosu, with its natural harbor, was a hotbed for smuggling, and he was interested in seeing how things operated. Although smuggling wasn't his area of expertise, most underground businesses relied on muscle, so maybe he could find some opportunities there.

"Let's go." Lee Tae called Huang Niu over, and the three of them hopped into a taxi, heading toward the harbor.